Where to Find Carnelian
46 mapped carnelian spots across 19 regions. Pick a region for its local guide, or browse every spot by country below. Carnelian is reddish-orange chalcedony, traditionally a rounded, water-worn piece in beach gravels and dry washes. Lake Michigan, Oregon, and California beaches all produce hobby-grade carnelian.
Top regions for carnelian
Map showing where to find carnelian, with 46 mapped spots
Every mapped carnelian spot
Carnelian rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find carnelian?+
Washington, Oregon, North Carolina have the highest concentrations of carnelian in this list. Quality and access vary by area, so open the linked region pages for a detailed view.
How many carnelian rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
46 mapped spots across 19 regions. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect carnelian on public land?+
In the U.S., casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like carnelian is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Rules differ by country and region, so always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify carnelian in the field?+
Field identification of carnelian comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt carnelian on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
